Anandamide – The Natural Cannabinoid Your Body Produces

Anandamide and CBD – The Natural Cannabinoid Your Body Produces

Anandamide – The “Bliss” Molecule!

Everyone loves chocolate, right? Ever wondered why it is notoriously known to be good for cheering you up? It’s Anandamide! This article looks at the link between Anandamide and CBD.

Named after Ananda – the Sanskrit word for “joy, bliss, or happiness” the neurotransmitter produced in the brain has been hailed as the ‘Bliss Molecule’, and is said to be responsible for the temporary happy feeling you get after your favourite bar of chocolate.

What exactly is Anandamide?

During research in the 1980’s, receptors were found in the brain for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. But this puzzled scientist as our bodies don’t naturally produce THC. It wasn’t until a few years later that they discovered Arachidonyl Ethanolamide – or Anandamide for short.

Anandamide is considered an endocannabinoid — a substance produced in the body that binds to cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant and the chemical reacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors within our own ECS. It is amongst many compounds that aid the body in a variety of physiological processes. This includes appetite, pain-sensation, mood, memory and is naturally produced within our bodies.

Increasing Anandamide intake

Although our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids such as anandamide, it is generally in low volumes thus need ‘topped-up’. Living a balanced, healthy lifestyle, eating green vegetables, doing exercise, and getting plenty of sleep all help to keep your Endocannabinoid system ticking over, however, there are other ways in which to boost the ‘Bliss Molecule’.

Truffles

Until recently, chocolate was believed to be the only food that contained anandamide – until scientists found that black truffles did. Although the fungus produces the chemical, it has no internal receptors that interact with it. So why does it produce it?

Have you ever seen a pig or dog sniff out a truffle? Frantic and excitable, certain animals are majorly attracted to the sought after fungus. It is believed that truffles develop anandamide for this purpose. So animals will eat it and in turn boost reproduction by releasing the fungus spores. Similar to the impact on humans, the ‘bliss’ producing anandamide is what makes it so attractive!

Exercise

Everyone has heard of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine being the main factors in the feel-good factor of a good run or gym session. However, studies are now suggesting that it is, in fact, a surge in endocannabinoids (such as Anandamide) that is responsible. We know this because endorphin molecules are too large to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Anandamide and CBD

Part of the same classification, anandamide and CBD are both cannabinoids. Apart from producing these naturally within our own bodies, they are found in abundance in the cannabis plant.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the medical use and healing properties of marijuana at the moment, with many advocating its versatile characteristics. Investigations into the benefits of CBD , in particular, suggests that supplementing your own endocannabinoid system can help regulate many of the body’s processes, such as :

Appetite

Metabolism

Pain

Sleep

Mood

Movement

Temperature

Memory and learning

Immune function

Inflammation

If boosting your ‘Bliss Molecule’ with chocolate and truffles doesn’t float your boat, then try a little bit of CBD. The up and coming natural way to ensure your body is functioning at its full potential. Now available in most countries legally, sold in oil, ointment, and herbal tea formats!